Been There, Done That with Greg Jackson

In this episode, Audrey and James explore the shadowy world of Revolutionary War espionage and discover how intelligence gathering became one of the conflict's most powerful weapons. We examine British spy networks, George Washington's remarkably sophisticated approach to intelligence, and the courageous exploits of figures such as Nathan Hale, the Culper Spy Ring, and Sergeant Major John Champe. Along the way, we uncover the ingenious methods spies used to transmit secret information, from invisible ink and numerical codes to dead drops and covert signals. The Revolution was won not only by soldiers on the battlefield, but also by ordinary men and women who risked their lives in a secret war of deception, intelligence, and intrigue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this concluding episode of their mini- series on the Revolutionary War at sea, Audrey and James explore how the conflict expanded into a global struggle involving France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic, stretching British naval power to its limits. We examine the decisive French victory at the Battle of the Chesapeake, which trapped Cornwallis at Yorktown and made the American triumph possible. We then conclude with the Battle of the Saintes, the Treaty of Paris, and the dissolution of the Continental Navy, while assessing the lasting contributions of American privateers and French sea power. Although the Continental Navy never challenged the Royal Navy on equal terms, the war at sea proved indispensable to securing American independence and laid the foundations of the United States Navy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, the second of a three-part miniseries on the naval war, James and Audrey examine how the Continental Navy and hundreds of American privateers waged a relentless campaign against British commerce, forcing the Royal Navy to divert valuable ships to protect merchant convoys. We then explore the dramatic impact of the American victory at Saratoga, which persuaded France to enter the war and transformed the Revolution into a global conflict. Finally, we follow the extraordinary exploits of John Paul Jones, from his daring raids on the British Isles to his legendary victory over HMS Serapis in one of the most celebrated naval battles of the Revolutionary War. Though America's navy remained small, its growing reputation and France's powerful alliance fundamentally altered the course of the war at sea. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Revolutionary War was fought not only on the battlefields of North America but also across the world's oceans, where Britain's mighty Royal Navy faced an unlikely challenge from a fledgling American naval force. In this first installment of a three-part series, James and Audrey explore the harsh realities of life aboard British and American warships, the rise of privateering, and the birth of the Continental Navy under leaders like John Adams, George Washington, and Esek Hopkins. We'll examine the first American naval operations, including Washington's "secret navy," the raid on Nassau, and the creation of a force that dared to challenge the greatest maritime power on earth. Join us as we set sail on the remarkable story of the Revolutionary War at sea and the beginnings of the United States Navy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James interviews author James Giesler about his book Francisco de Saavedra’s American Revolutionary War: The Spanish Contribution to the Battle of Yorktown. Saavedra is little-known among twenty-first century Americans, in spite of the fact that he played an outsized role in helping the Patriots win the Battle of Yorktown. You will almost certainly enjoy listening to this captivating interview about this fascinating 18th century figure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.